Chemist & Druggist articles from January 2009

Chemist & Druggist archives from January 2009

Comment from the Editor: 10.01.09.(Editorial)
January 10, 2009... Many pharmacists put the bubbly on ice over the festive period to ensure patients didn't go without vital NHS services. What a kick in the teeth then that the thanks one pharmacy team got for working all hours was to be threatened by armed...

Credit crunch woes predicted.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Higher cost of borrowing coupled with cash flow pressures herald an uncertain financial year for pharmacies Zoe Smeaton Pharmacists should brace themselves for yet more financial challenges in the first half of 2009, experts have...

2009 concerns.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Money worries are at the forefront of the issues facing pharmacy this year, contractors and industry experts have said. Liverpool LPC secretary Jeremy Clitherow voiced concern about the effect on pharmacy services. He said: "We will have to...

C+D launches free online recruitment service.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Chemist+Druggist has this week launched a free online recruitment service to connect pharmacy job seekers and employers. C+D Jobs is set to become the place for job seekers to search for pharmacy positions free of charge, at...

Coughs and colds Christmas boom.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Contractors have reported a roaring Christmas trade in cold, cough and flu remedies and prescriptions. As news of sliding sales and job cuts at leading high street retailers filled the national press this week, pharmacy owners told C+D...

Still in shock.(Crimes against pharmacists)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... An east London pharmacist is still in shock after being held up at gunpoint on New Year's Eve. Rohpharm in Plaistow was preparing to close at around 6pm when two masked robbers threatened staff with a gun concealed in a carrier bag. Although...

IN BRIEF: Supply chain consultation.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... The MHRA has launched a consultation on proposals to strengthen the UK medicines supply chain and reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines. http://tinyurl.com/9fbhry Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Ranbaxy settlements.
January 10, 2009... The Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have agreed settlement of claims against manufacturer Ranbaxy over alleged anti- competitive conduct in the supply of generic drugs to the NHS. Ranbaxy has agreed to pay, on a full and...

IN BRIEF: Pharmacy for flu and colds.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... NPA chief executive John Turk has urged people to seek advice on colds and flu from their local pharmacy after increased demand on other healthcare providers due to minor ailments was highlighted. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Script sorting.(prescription bundles)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... NHS Prescription Services has introduced a revised form for the submission of prescription bundles for pricing, to clarify sorting requirements under the automated scheme. The new FP34c document will be supplied from this month with optional...

IN BRIEF: Prescription clarification.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Prescriptions signed by the prescriber are legally valid even if the name printed below the signature is not that of the prescriber, PSNC, the RPSGB and NHS Prescription Services have clarified. PSNC has also issued guidance on the submission...

OBITUARY: Peter Hollingworth.(Obituary)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... GSK Consumer has announced the sudden passing of Peter Hollingworth, who had been a territory business manager for its pharmacy field force for 35 years. The company added: "He always approached his role with great professionalism but also with...

Timing right for obesity services.(Brief article)(Clinical report)
January 10, 2009... Pharmacists should think about offering weight management services to tie in with the government's new obesity campaign, experts have said. But others warned that for progress to be made, a national enhanced service template must be...

Cumbria service assists quitters.(smoking cessation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Around 65 pharmacists across Cumbria have launched a smoking cessation service, commissioned by the local NHS, in time to help new year quitters. Pharmacies are paid up to #20 per patient to provide the service, which includes an initial...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Nice rule change.(end of life treatment recommendation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Nice appraisal committee members have been given new criteria for recommending treatments for patients near the end of life. Nice usually only recommends treatments that cost less than #30,000 per quality-of- life-year (QALY). However, having...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Antifungal asthma relief.(itraconazole)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
January 10, 2009... Many asthma sufferers may benefit from treatment with the antifungal itraconazole, University of Manchester scientists have claimed. Their research, published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, showed that as...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Fish oil findings.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... A BMJ review of 12 randomised controlled trials of fish oils has concluded there is insufficient evidence to recommend an optimal formulation of two key fish oils. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were associated with...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Hormone bone loss link.(medroxyprogesterone)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
January 10, 2009... Adolescent girls using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate may be at risk of losing bone mass, according to researchers writing in the journal Fertility and Sterility. http://tinyurl.com/7gxswt Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

CLINICAL BRIEFS: QOF points boost health.(Quality and Outcomes Framework)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Incentivising GPs through the QOF system may be improving glucose levels in patients with diabetes, according to study results published by the journal Diabetes Care. http://tinyurl.com/9wstvf Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Northern Ireland peace after minor ailments row.
January 10, 2009... Pharmacy leaders achieve #1 million in extra funding for scheme Max Gosney Northern Irish pharmacies have ended their boycott of minor ailment services after industry leaders secured #1 million extra funding for the scheme. ...

Pill mix-up not responsible for pregnancy.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... A pharmacist blamed for causing an unwanted and "torrid" pregnancy through a dispensing error has been cleared by a High Court judge. Louise Wootton, from Walsall, argued that she fell pregnant with a daughter, born in May 2004, because a...

Please release me.(electronic prescription service)
January 10, 2009... EPS release 2 is set to arrive this year. But we've heard it all before, so is it really true, and why has the project taken so long? Zoe Smeaton finds out When electronic prescriptions were first discussed, it was expected that...

XRAYSER: Don't force me to be popular.(assessing general practitioners)
January 10, 2009... The government wants patients to be able to rate their GP's performance via bulletin boards on the NHS Choices website. Doctors think this is a bad idea and I agree. I'm all in favour of patient empowerment, but unless they've spent 10...

IRISH EYE: Put in our place - at the heart of healthcare.(pharmacy services)
January 10, 2009... During Christmas week I became mildly famous in West Belfast. A Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership project reached its conclusion with the public unveiling of a youth anti-drugs and alcohol mural on the wall of the pharmacy. Our chief...

LETTER: Joint effort is best outcome for patients.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2009... Certain parties seem intent on provoking a turf war between GPs and pharmacists over the vascular checks programme. This is a great shame since both PCTs and GPs are, in fact, increasingly open to the role that pharmacy and other...

LETTER: Last words on the subject.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2009... Yes my friends, the end is near as I hang up my white coat - not that I've worn one for several years as I am in the smart tie and shirt brigade. But before I shuffle off, I'd like to make a few observations. * MURs: these should be doctor...

LETTER: Bureaucracy getting in the way of patient care.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2009... I hardly need to repeat all the problems that many contractors are having with the Prescription Pricing Division (PPD) - suffice to say I am extremely frustrated and have zero confidence - but I have a new issue to add to the list. Instead...

LETTER: Can't take that away from me.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2009... As I read it (The New Professional Body for Pharmacy - The Prospectus, p21): "If you are not a practising pharmacist... it will not be legally permissible to call yourself a `pharmacist'." At present I, together with many others, call...

LETTER: Time for PPD and PSNC to come clean.(Letter to the editor)
January 10, 2009... Further to the debate and articles in C+D about the PPD's new business processes, I'd like to add we have been monitoring our account since we were switched to the new scanning pricing process and queried our January payment in April via the...

PHARMACY UPDATE: What's new in type 2 diabetes?
January 10, 2009... What the new diabetes drugs bring to management, and other topical issues in diabetes 60-second summary * Which of the new treatments can be added if control is inadequate with metformin and/or a sulphonylurea? Of the newer drugs,...

CLINICAL: What does 2009 hold?
January 10, 2009... It's the time of year when Gavin Atkin dusts off his crystal ball to predict the 14 most likely drug launches for 2009 1. Grass pollen immunisation On the allergy front, a strong candidate for this coming year appears to be Allergy...

C+D AWARDS: The next generation.(Occupation overview)
January 10, 2009... From day one of his career, it was clear Ravi Patel was no ordinary employee. Tom Hawkins talked to C+D's Pre-registration Graduate of the Year 2008 Ravi Patel describes his first 24 hours as a qualified pharmacist "as a different kind of...

PRODUCT NEWS: Cool addition from Mentholatum.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Deep Freeze Cold Spray has been launched by Mentholatum. It is presented in a brushed aluminium can with a chunky activator button, designed to be easy for cold, wet or muddy sports players and elderly users to operate. The product can be...

PRODUCT NEWS: Try a boost of juicy energy.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Gluco Juice is a new entrant in the energy category. Launched by BBI Healthcare, the product is targeted at diabetics, sports and fitness enthusiasts and those with a busy lifestyle. Two flavours - raspberry burst and lemon and lime - are...

PRODUCT NEWS: Night Nurse is back.(for cold and flu treatment)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Cold and flu treatment Night Nurse is being advertised on television in a #1.2 million campaign that will be running until mid-February. Viewers will see the familiar `Rainswept' ad featuring a cold sufferer going home in miserable...

PRODUCT NEWS: Lipobind weighs in.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... A `seven figure through-the-line marketing campaign' for weight management supplement Lipobind is underway, reports manufacturer Goldshield. Running until March with a `find your true form' theme, the campaign is said to celebrate the...

PRODUCT NEWS: Cura-Heat's cure all.(knee and neck variants)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... A new television advert for Cura-Heat is promoting the back, knee and neck variants, reports manufacturer Kobayashi. Continuing for three months, the campaign is part of a #1 million investment in the brand this year. The 20-second...

PRODUCT NEWS: By gum, it's Corsodyl.(Corsodyl Mint Mouthwash )(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Oralcare brand Corsodyl is gracing television screens with a return of its `Gorgeous' creative. It will run nationally from January 12 until February 16. The 20-second ad uses an attractive woman revealing a gap in her teeth to convey its...

PRODUCT NEWS: Triple TV turn for Aquafresh brand.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Oralcare brand Aquafresh is set to benefit from a triple boost of television advertising. Backing the children's variants, the Nurdle Schmurdle campaign returns, running each evening on the Cartoonito Channel. The advertising has won media...

PRODUCT NEWS: Get animated about thrush.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Canesten Duo returns to television screens this month to teach consumers about its dual approach to treating vaginal thrush. Running from January 12 until the end of March, the `Show and tell' creative features an animated female character...

PRODUCT NEWS: Nutrition Point beats the deadline.(Nutrition Point)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Nutrition Point, owner of the Glutafin, Dietary Specials and Trufree brands, has said all its products comply with new criteria regarding gluten-free labelling. The company has come into line with the new Codex Standard and EC legislation...

PRODUCT NEWS: Sensodyne lets the public do the work.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... The new year sees support for GSK's Sensodyne brand continue with a #10 million TV investment for 2009. Beginning on January 12, a series of testimonial ads for Sensodyne Total Care F will run intermittently through to June. Members of the...

RECRUITMENT: Your questions answered - How can I keep my technician?(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... Q One of my technicians has been approached about a position in a local hospital. She was not looking to leave but is now considering it as they are promising her a career pathway. What can I do to keep her? Numark training manager Jane...

RECRUITMENT: How to be a CPPE tutor.(Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education)
January 10, 2009... Looking for a new job? Got a staff problem? C+D's new weekly careers section is your one-stop guide to making the right decisions C+D's Asha Fowells describes her experience as a new CPPE tutor There must be many pharmacists out there...

POSTSCRIPT: New for 2009.(new reporter Chris Chapman)(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... PostScript is delighted to welcome Chris Chapman to the C+D editorial team. Chris joins C+D as a reporter. Chris initially trained as a pharmacist and, after pre-registration placements with both Tesco Pharmacy and Scarborough General...

POSTSCRIPT: Open Mike - Mike Hewitson.(Brief article)
January 10, 2009... The not-so-secret diary of a new pharmacy owner Mike Hewitson is a glutton for punishment. In the midst of economic downturn and with first-time fatherhood looming, Mike has bought his first pharmacy. In this regular column, follow him from...

Comment from the Editor: 17.0.09.(Editorial)
January 17, 2009... There is a long-held view that health is a recession-proof business. Yeah, right. I think we can safely say that mantra is well and truly dead. Like every other part of the economy, community pharmacy faces a tough 2009 - people are less...

Phoenix boss: we're not for sale.(Phoenix Medical Supplies)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... EXCLUSIVE: Chief executive Paul Smith quashes rumours of sell-off following death of company's billionaire owner Max Gosney Phoenix chief Paul Smith has dismissed "speculation" that the company has put Rowlands, Numark and its UK...

Wholesalers could cut discounts, BAPW warns.(British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Wholesalers could reduce some discounts to pharmacies if manufacturers do not guarantee them against potential stock losses under new branded drugs prices, their trade organisation has warned. The BAPW (British Association of Pharmaceutical...

Supply schemes hit double figures with latest deal.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... The number of manufacturer-led supply deals hit double figures this week as Novo Nordisk announced its selection of Phoenix and UniChem as wholesale partners. The chosen wholesalers will continue to manage discounts and delivery frequency...

IN BRIEF: C+D & THE PDA UNION - Salary Survey 2009.(Pharmacists' Defence Association)(Chemist & Druggist)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... C+D has teamed up with the PDA Union for the Salary Survey 2009. Launching next week, the C+D and PDA Union Salary Survey 2009 will reveal the hopes and fears of employed and self-employed pharmacists and support staff. Look out in next week's...

IN BRIEF: RP warning.(responsible pharmacist)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Pharmacists must be alert to the responsible pharmacist (RP) legislation changes or find themselves "in hot water", the PDA has warned, as the RPSGB launched a consultation on draft guidance for the regulations. ...

IN BRIEF: Members speak out.
January 17, 2009... Over 800 RPSGB members submitted their views on its plans for a new professional body for pharmacy, before consultation closed last Friday. The submissions, which will be presented at the Society's February Council meeting, represent less than...

IN BRIEF: Price cut time lag.
January 17, 2009... Branded medicines price cuts due to come into effect in February will not be reflected in pharmacy reimbursement until March prescription payments, Community Pharmacy Scotland and PSNC have confirmed. The clarification follows a one-month delay...

Boots unveils plans for in-store GPs.(General practitioners)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... EXCLUSIVE: Developing pilots is key priority for 2009, healthcare director reveals Jennifer Richardson Boots has outlined plans to develop its in-store GP model in 2009 in an exclusive interview with C+D. The in-store GP pilots...

Lewisham Pill pilot is coming.(contraceptive pills without prescription)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... The Lewisham pharmacy pilot scheme providing the contraceptive pill to women without a prescription is close to launching, C+D understands. Sources at Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham LPC said they expected the scheme to start in Lewisham...

Pharmacist dies in holiday tragedy.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Hampshire pharmacists have paid tribute to a colleague who died when she collided with a rock while riding on a rubber ring in Belize. Victoria Harmer, 35, was killed in the accident while on the Mopan River on Boxing Day. Victoria...

IN BRIEF: Boots stays with NPA.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Boots has signalled its support for the NPA by renewing its membership until 2011. The two-year deal, which commenced on January 1, has been hailed as a move that strengthens the entire community pharmacy sector by NPA chief executive John...

IN BRIEF: NCSO update.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... The Department of Health and National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for January prescriptions: hydroxyzine 25mg tablets and Ketoprofen 100mg capsules. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Sickie day storm.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Benylin has stirred up a storm among business owners with its latest advertising concept. The campaign includes tips on phoning or emailing in sick. Small businesses claim it encourages skiving among workers. chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news ...

IN BRIEF: PCTs lack reform ability.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... PCTs lack the ability to implement the reforms proposed in Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review, MPs have said. The Parliamentary Health Committee said variable PCT management was "striking and depressing", and it remained unconvinced by...

Erratic category M cuts causing cashflow crisis.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... MP reports community pharmacists `shouldering a disproportionate burden' Colin Brown Pharmacists are facing a "disproportionate burden" in the economic downturn and could go bust because of erratic swings in category M funding, the...

PCT guidance on PNAs `no help'.(primary care trust)(pharmaceutical needs assessments)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Guidance to help PCTs to produce pharmaceutical needs assessments (PNAs) has reignited industry fears over the documents. The assessments will be used to help PCTs decide what pharmacy services to commission, and to make decisions on new...

Lecturer given the all-clear in exam fixing case.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... RPSGB to foot the bill for half of professor's legal costs after defeat UK Law A pharmacy lecturer has been cleared of misconduct allegations after a decision to increase students' test scores at De Montfort University. The RPSGB...

DISPENSARY TALK: What one thing would you change in pharmacy in 2009?(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... "Pharmacy really needs to push forward even more, and having a strong leadership body is the most important thing because all the others are already happening at the moment - the PCT I belong to already does a lot of services." Aniket...

Herbal myths must be dispelled.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Pharmacists have a moral and ethical duty to dispel patient myths about herbal medicines, experts have said. The comments came in response to MHRA-commissioned research that found almost 60 per cent of herbal medicine users believe such...

`Offensive' advert withdrawn after complaints.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Adverts for a nasal delivery treatment for erectile dysfunction have been removed after being slammed as "offensive, gratuitous and inappropriate". The Advanced Medical Institute (AMI), which supplies the product, agreed to drop the ads...

A new sheriff in town.
January 17, 2009... With the RPSGB handing over pharmacy regulation to the GPhC next year, Jennifer Richardson meets the man behind the new law enforcement agency and asks what this means to pharmacists Proportionate must be the key word for the future...

Credit crunch = crime?
January 17, 2009... With leaked Home Office documents warning that retail crime will rise, Chris Chapman examines the threat posed to pharmacies during the recession Two men are advancing rapidly toward the pharmacy counter. They're wearing hoodies and you...

XRAYSER: Bless you, my sick patients.
January 17, 2009... Your local community pharmacy is the best place to go if you want advice and treatment for your colds and flu. It's also the best place to work if you want to catch a cold or the flu. Despite dosing myself up to the eyeballs with echinacea...

PHARMACIST IN THE HOUSE: Why I love the internet (and so should you).(Column)
January 17, 2009... Maybe it is because the last three weeks have been relatively politics free or because I am fed up with hearing about the credit crunch, but I thought that, for a change, I would write about the internet. The media love to paint the `net'...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Treating painful ears and throats.(Disease/Disorder overview)
January 17, 2009... A pharmacist's guide to managing these common symptoms and advising on suitable treatments 60-second summary Would you sell a cerumenolytic to a customer who said his ear was blocked by wax? Patients may wrongly ascribe their ear...

CLINICAL ALERTS: Alerts.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Camcolit 250 (lithium carbonate) Patients should be warned of the possible hazards when driving or operating machinery. Norgine, 01895 826600, medinfo@norgine.com Domperidone 1mg/ml suspension Name changed from Motilium 1mg/ml suspension;...

CLINICAL ALERTS: New Products.
January 17, 2009... Methotrexate 10mg tablets Indications are active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients and severe forms of psoriasis vulgaris that cannot be sufficiently treated with conventional therapies. Orion Pharma, 01635 520300, medical...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: End of life drug guidance.(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Nice guidelines designed to boost access to drugs that extend life in terminally ill patients are unlikely to make much difference, according to a Southampton University professor writing in the BMJ. www.bmj.com Copyright: CMP...

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Framingham drawback.(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Risk factors derived from the Framingham study are not effective in very elderly people with no history of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published by the BMJ. http://tinyurl.com/8rrhpw Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

CLINICAL BRIEFS: Statins for dementia?(Report)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... An analysis of 6,992 comparable patients results dating back to the early 1990s published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry has revealed a relative risk of 0.57 of dementia in the group who received statins. ...

CLINICAL: GPs under `pressure' to issue neuroleptics, claims professor.(General practitioners)(Report)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... GP leader Professor Steve Field has claimed GPs are under great pressure from nursing home staff to prescribe neuroleptics for agitated patients. Following publication of new data in The Lancet showing increased mortality in Alzheimer's...

CLINICAL: Co-morbidity predicts repeat ADR admissions.(adverse drug reaction)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
January 17, 2009... Co-morbidity treated in the community, not age, is likely to be the most important predictor of admission for a repeat adverse drug reaction, according to Australian researchers. Some 28,548 patients aged over 60 were followed up over three...

CLINICAL: Study examines eczema-water link.(Brief article)(Clinical report)
January 17, 2009... Researchers at the University of Portsmouth are looking for children with moderate to severe eczema for a study of the effect of installing a water softener. Eczema affects up to 20 per cent of schoolchildren in the UK, but is reported to...

CLINICAL: Children at risk as cases of measles rise.(Report)(Brief article)
January 17, 2009... Health Protection Agency officials have again warned that measles cases are rising across the country and that large numbers of children are at risk. The agency reported 1,217 confirmed cases from January to November 2008, 115 of which...

PRODUCT NEWS: Management of diabetes simplified.
January 17, 2009... Lesley Ribbens A rebranding exercise by Bayer HealthCare is aiming to simplify diabetes management for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Under the `Simple Wins' initiative, Ascensia Microfill test strips have been renamed...

PRODUCT NEWS: Keeping it clean.
January 17, 2009... Hygiene and sterilisation brand Milton is extending and rebranding its offering. The new product, launching in the spring, is an antibacterial fabric solution to be used alongside ordinary washing powders. It claims to kill harmful germs...

PRODUCT NEWS: Pink link for charity.
January 17, 2009... Australian Bodycare's hand and body lotion has been given a pink makeover for 2009 in a link-up with the Breast Cancer Campaign. For each bottle sold, the company will donate #1 to the charity. The lotion contains 5 per cent tea tree oil...